Vrouw veegt een gang met trap 1885

This print, 'Vrouw veegt een gang met trap,' by Charles Mertens, uses etching to draw us into a domestic scene. The composition is structured around a series of receding spaces, defined by shadow and light. Notice how the archway frames the staircase, leading the eye upwards, while the figure of the woman anchors the foreground. Mertens plays with perspective, creating depth through subtle gradations of tone. The textures, achieved by the etching technique, add a tactile quality to the scene, emphasizing the materiality of the interior space. The subject matter—a woman sweeping—invites us to consider the social and domestic spheres. The print can be seen as an exploration of space and labor, reflecting broader societal structures and gender roles of the time. Consider the use of light and shadow, not merely as descriptive tools, but as structural elements that delineate space and suggest the psychological dimension of everyday life. The artwork remains an open text, inviting us to reflect on its formal qualities.